One of the youth sports situations I witnessed was the 12 year old son of friends of ours who was walking to an out-of-place (parked sideways across parking spaces) white van in the parking lot. I asked him what he was doing. He said they guy in the van told him he is handicapped and asked him if he would go get him a Snickers from the concession stand. He was walking to the van to get the money from him. As soon as I interceeded, the guy took off. Another young lady was sitting in her car listening to music during a sibling’s practice when a truck parked next to her and asked her to get into his truck. She told him no and tried to ignore him but he was persistent. She went to her mom who happened to be next to me and told her about it. I immediately went to the parking lot. When he saw me walking with her, he started his engine. I followed him to his house and called the police on the way. Upon follow-up, I found out that not only him but his father are both registered sex offenders. We have made it a policy if we notice those we do not recognize to ask who their player is. If they can’t tell us quickly, they have to leave. No questions asked. We also have a policy in place if a child happens to go missing during one of our sporting events that locks down the facility, stops all games and requires all coaches & umpires to be involved in the search. Fortunately, we have only had to use it a couple of times and both children were located in places within the park. Nobody complained about being locked in and parents are very understanding but it takes a lot of vigilence to make sure our little guys and gals are safe.

I have a child who looks much, much older than her real age. To say that she is naive is a severe understatement. It terrifies me. She is never outside watchful eyes of friends or family outside of school where she is dropped off and picked up. I know her friend’s parents and anyone new for party or sleep-over invitations has to undergo a full interrogation! I won’t apologize for it! I need to know who is in the house, gender, age and other friends. I hate that it has to be that way as my childhood was nothing like that. I can’t imagine putting her on a bus or leaving her anywhere alone in public or at home or sending her to a “friends” house without vetting everything I can. It is definitely a scary world these days.

I feel so awful for this family. It is so horrible that this world is not a safer place for our young people.

Have we seen the actual Facebook exchane here yet? I’ll post it for those who haven’t.
It appears that Autumn initiated the contact with the boys. I’m sorry that she would be doing that and using the internet without supervision. A little advanced (in not a good way) for a 12-year-old to call a bicycle, ‘sexy.’

“”Is that ur bike?” asked Autumn, a BMX bike enthusiast.
“Yeupp,” the 15-year-old suspect replied.
“Thts sexy!” she said.
“lol thxx,” he replied. “… yes. cme 2 my house.”

http://www.dailydot.com/news/facebook-messages-murder-trail/

RIP Autumn. You are close to my heart babygirl.

Someone on the Jessica Ridgeway thread mentioned that the names of the perp were not being released. Here is a new article, which lists both of their names.

However, I have to adjust your hat. There is only one Red here, lol, literally and figuratively.
B